Jury: Guilty verdict in Lake County bartender murder

PAINESVILLE -- The jury has found Joseph Thomas guilty of aggravated murder and rape in the case of Mentor resident Annie McSween.

The jury found Thomas guilty on all counts.

The jury began deliberations Thursday after seven days of testimony. The case is the county's first capital murder trial in almost 18 years.

Thomas, 28, of Perry Township, is accused of killing McSween, 49, of Mentor, on her 49th birthday in 2010 when she left Mario's Lakeway Lounge in Mentor-on-the Lake where she worked.

Thomas faces the death penalty.

Thomas was accused of strangling, beating stabbing and raping McSween and prosecutors said the jury needs o convict Thomas on all 10 counts -- three counts of aggravated murder, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, rape and tampering with evidence.